The Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees reported that 138 migrant families returned to the country on Saturday, Oct. 6, from neighboring Iran and Pakistan.
According to the ministry, while some families returned voluntarily, others were deported.
Of the families arriving from Pakistan, 41 entered through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings. From Iran, 60 families returned via the Silk Path crossing, and 37 others came through the Islam Qala border point.
A recent survey conducted by Amu, a regional news organization, found that “unemployment” and “poor economic conditions” were the primary drivers of illegal migration among Afghan citizens. Many migrants seek work opportunities in Iran and Pakistan as Afghanistan grapples with ongoing economic challenges.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently reported a surge in Afghan returnees from Iran, with 230,000 arrivals recorded in September—the highest monthly total this year. This figure marks a significant increase over May, when 190,000 Afghans returned from Iran, underscoring a trend of forced or voluntary repatriations amid mounting economic and political pressures in both countries.
In a related development, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) noted that since September 2023, more than 733,000 Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan as Pakistan moves to deport over a million undocumented migrants. This policy shift has sparked concerns among human rights organizations, who warn of the challenges faced by returning families amid Afghanistan’s ongoing instability and lack of infrastructure.
